The Córdoba Patio Festival

On our first trip to Córdoba we had a chance to see one of the famous patios, the courtyards. You can read more about our first time in the city and about these inner gardens here.) I decided then that I will return in May to see the Fiesta de los Patios, the Patio Festival. The day has come and with our friend, Rafael, to accompany us we set out to see as many of them as we could.

There were six routes available with the Judería and the San Basilio areas being the most popular. We chose some different routes where we didn´t have to queue to get in. This is important as the festival in 2012 became part of the UNESCO World Heritage it attracts more and more visitors every year.

The Patio Festival is not only a fiesta but also a competition where the owners compete for the most beautiful patio prize. Let me show you the most beautiful ones of the San Lorenzo route in the pictures below.

The Palacio de Viana

Even though most of these patios are private houses and can be visited only during the   festival, the Viana Palace is open all year round for the visitors. It cost us only five euros to get in and it was worth every penny. It originates from the 14^th century. Walking around the building will lead you through its 12 patios and its garden. Don´t forget to check out its temporary exhibitions! More information on the Palacio can be found here, on its official site ..

The afternoon patios of the Santa Maria route.

Parallel to the Patio Festival many other types of events were running as well, such as music or flamenco on the street. It´s worth trying the region´s wines and taste its local dishes (read more about the latter here). Above all, Córdoba is a gorgeous town and together with Seville and Granada, part of the Golden Triangle of Andalusia. Don´t miss visiting it!